Work-Life Balance Is Outdated: Here’s What to Build Instead and How
- Dilek Süzal
- Jun 3
- 2 min read
“Work-life balance? That’s impossible in my role.”
That’s what many high-performing professionals tell themselves. Especially in fast-paced, international environments, with complex teams and constant deliverables.
But...maybe we’ve been using the wrong words to begin with.
Life is a work in progress.
And work is part of earning life.
A beautiful paradox, isn’t it? 😉
Problem: We’ve been conditioned to believe we must choose between personal peace and professional excellence.
Either we’re crushing it at work but neglecting our relationships, or we’re present in life but “falling behind” in our careers. And worst of all? We internalise guilt whenever one side of our identity takes the lead!
Solution: A deeper connection between our personal and professional identities.
I call it: Personal & Professional Growth Harmony.
A rhythm where your values, energy, and time align and evolve with the season of life you’re in.
Here is how my main takeaways from the Book 'Make Time', by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky shifted my thinking on creating this harmony.
When you:
💎 Define what matters most each day (Highlight)
💎 Defend your focus with your environment (Laser)
💎 Respect your energy like your career depends on it (Energize)
💎 Course-correct regularly (Reflect)
💎 Schedule joy deliberately (Design for joy)
…you’re not juggling two separate lives.
You’re designing one intentional, aligned life, where both your personal fulfilment and professional growth have space to thrive.
Here are 3 additional tips I share in my Balancing Success Coaching Program that can help you reclaim harmony without guilt:
🔹 #1 - Learn to Choose without Guilt
Some days, your relationships / family / spirituality will take the front seat.
Other days, your career will. That’s not failure, that’s life in motion.
The key is to choose consciously. We check in with my coachees regularly. You’ll see that harmony is dynamic, not perfect.
🔹 #2 - Effective Decision-Making: Pause Before You Say Yes
Say yes only if it aligns with either your goals or your wellbeing.
Otherwise, it’s a distraction in disguise.
🔹 #3 - Embrace Change as Growth, not Chaos
Your priorities will shift. Like Mel Robbins puts it ‘Let them’. Your personal and professional life move in seasons. Some seasons demand hustle. Others call for healing.
Build rituals like a monthly reflection, a walk without your phone, a coaching session that clears the fog. These micro-habits bring macro clarity.
Which of these tips could help you harmonise different areas of your life which are more interconnected than you think?
Please share this blog post, if you know someone who will benefit from it!
Warmly,
Dilek
Official Collaboration Partners:
★ Lead Coach at the global coaching platform BetterUp based in USA.
★ Executive Coach and Trainer at SparkUs based in Turkey and Netherlands.
★ Impact Partner for coaching, training & facilitation projects at leadership experts Think Beyond Group based in Austria.
★ Leadership Coach at Percoms AG, based in Switzerland.
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